The former Newcastle striker, 43, succeeds another ex-Anfield star, Mark Wright, at the Deva Stadium.

Wright, who led City back into the Football League as Conference champions last season, left on the eve of their League Two campaign and Ray Mathias had been acting as caretaker manager.

Rush began his career at Chester, scoring 14 goals in 33 games before moving to Liverpool for £300,000 in 1980. He enjoyed a great career at Anfield, which was only interrupted by an unsuccessful spell in Italy with Juventus, before joining Leeds and Newcastle.